Typographical slug casting machine



J1me 1939- c. A. ALBRECHT ET AL TYPOGRAPHICAL sLuG CASTING MACHINE File d March 51, 1938 2 Sheets-Shed l Hal.

J. a m .b m M 6 2 2 2 m m 7//// I w///// D 9 3.: 7 Z M w m a m w m m a 5 2.. T/// a m r/ w Patented June 27, 1939 PATENT OFFICE TYPOGRAPHICAL SLUG CASTING MACHINE Christian Augustusv Albrecht, Berlin, and Hermann Brandenburg, Berlin-Tempelhof, Germany,

assig'nors to Mergenthaler Linotype Company, Brooklyn, N. Y., a p y of w York Application March 31, 1938, Serial No. 199,096 In Germany December 20, 1937 14 Claims. (01. 199-47) This invention relates to typographical slug casting machines.

In some such machines, it is already known to cast completely finished slugs, that is, slugs which do not require any machining either .at the foot or along their lateral surfaces, but are delivered directly in readiness for further .use. The production of slugs of this kind in matrix composing and slug casting machines employing circulating matrices, and having a mould mounted on a mould disc adapted to bring the cast slug from, the casting to the ejecting position through the rotation of the mould carrier, presents considerable difficulties, and it has not heretofore been practicable to produce completely finished slugs with such a machine. The difficulties above referred to arise in the first place from the fact that owing to the comparatively short time available for the casting operation, and for the movement leading up to the ejection of the slug, more especially in the case of thick slugs, the metal cannot be cooled quickly enough to permitthe sprue to be broken off with a clean break. Further, it is diflicult when the metal not I is moved back, properly to remove the sprue adhering to the mould, without interfering with the various devices arranged in the rear of the mould carrier.

The object of the present invention is to overcome these difficulties and to devise a machine, operating with circulating matrices, which is capable of producing completely finished cast slugs. I

With this end in View the invention consists in a typographical slug casting machine for casting a finished slug, comprising in combination a mould carrier, adapted to reciprocate between the positions in which it supports a mould in its casting and slug ejecting positions,a plate or the like adapted to be moved relatively to the mould, and to separate the sprue from the cast slug, a knife, for trimming the character bearing edge of a partially ejected slug, carried by a slide adapted to act as a guide for the slug during further ejection, and a sprue ejector adapted to be movedinto operation during ejection of the slug.

In matrix composing and slug casting machines, it is known per se for a mould to be oscillatably mounted so that the reciprocation of its carrier through 90 degrees brings it alternately into the casting and the ejecting positions. It is also known per se to provide moulds with a movable plate, through which the slug is cast and in which is formed a sprue capable of being broken off, for the purpose of producing a completely finishedslug. Further, it is also known per se to avoid the lateral trimming of the slug, by cutting 01f from the slug, by a pair of knives moved longitudinally of the slug, the fins which are and thus to obtain a machine capable of deliver- I ing a completely finished slug,

The invention will become clearfrom the following description of one form, given by way of example, which it may assume, and this description will be more readily followed by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a mould carrier in a machine according to the invention, with its actuating mechanism;

Figure 2 is a section taken along the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2; g I

Figure 4 (drawn to a larger scale) is a section taken along the line 44 of Figure 1; I

Figure 5 is a section taken along the line 5- of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a front elevation of the trimming mechanism when at rest; and v Figure 7 is a similar view as in'Figure 6, except that the trimming mechanism is in the position wherein it has trimmed the slug and is supporting it. a

In carrying the invention into effect in one convenient manner as shown in the drawings herewith, a slide 6 is provided in the usual manner and has rigidly attached thereto a stud l for the mould carrier. Upon this stud is mounted a freely rotatably disc 8 upon the hub of which is arranged likewise, in a freely rotatable manner, the mould carrier 9. Towards the front, the mould carrier is firmly held by a disc [0 mounted upon the stud l, and screwed on to it. The mpuld carrier is provided with a number of holes II,

corresponding to the number of moulds present.

In the construction shown there are four such holes separated from each other at 90 degrees intervals, and all located at the same distance from the pivotal axis, and in the disc 8 is located a resilient pin (not shown) capable of entering any one of the said holes in order to locate the disc 8 relatively to the mould carrier 9, and in this way bring into the operative position any one of the four moulds present.

the crank stud 14 of a crank disc l6 mounted. With every operative cycle upon a shaft l5. of the machine the crank disc makes one complete revolution in two partial rotations of 180 degrees each. Through such a partial rotation the crank stud I2 is turned through 90 degrees about the pivotal axis of the mould'carrien'the" mould carrier being also turned through 90 degrees and, as the movement of the crank stud is an oscillating movement, one complete revolution of the crank disc It produces during each cycle an oscillation of the mould carrier over an amplitude of 90 degrees, so that the mould illustrated near the top of the mould carrier (which as shown is located in casting position) is brought, after a half cycle, into the position occupied by-the mould l8 in Figure 1, which is the ejecting position. After the second'half cycle the mould is again returned to the initial position. In order to limit these respective movements and for the purpose of accurately locating the crank disc IS in its respective terminal positions, the said disc is provided with two notches l9 into which engages a controlled lug 20. The control of the said lug is such as to release the disc H5 at the required time and lock it again after it has made half a revolution. As the turning movement of the mould carrier through 90 degrees in one or in the other direction requires only a comparatively short space of time, a saving of time is hereby effected as compared with the known constructional forms of machine wherein a mould disc is arranged for rotation by an appropriate pinion, first through 90 degrees and then through 270 degrees. The time thus saved can be used to obtain better solidification of the slug in the mould, or to increase the period for injection of molten metal into the mould thus ensuring that the mould slot will be completely filled and better type faces cast.

As in the case of the known machines, the mould comprises a mould cap and a mould body with liners or intermediate members inserted between them to determine the length of the casting slot. The mould carrier is provided with four rectangular apertures in which the moulds are mounted, and the mould body is provided with slots 22 through which the mould is engaged by the set screws 23, the tightening of which secures the mould on the mould carrier. The mould cap, such as those bearing the reference numbers I! and IS in the moulds shown as a whole in Figure 1, has been given the reference number 25 in the enlarged sections shown in Figures 4 and 5 and the mould body is shown therein with the reference number 25. These two parts are held together by means of screws 26. As it may happen that particles of dirt or fin shavings or the like may be present upon the surfaces of the mould carrier upon which the mould is positioned or upon the lower face'of the mould body resting upon the mould carrier, which particles may prevent the mould from properly taking up its regular position in the mould carrier, a rib 21 (Figures 4 and 5) is'provided according to the invention, on the mould body, the said rib being adapted to fit into a corresponding recess in the mould carrier. This rib'2'l can only engage the recess provided the mould is properly seated on the mould carrier, so that the accurate position of the mould is thereby determined, On the mould carrier there are, in known manner, a number of locating bushings 28, corresponding to the number of moulds present, the said bushings extending through corresponding apertures in the mould. When the mould carrier is moved forward in known manner for the casting and the ejection of the slug, these bushings are engaged, by corresponding studs provided on the vise frame for the purpose of accurately locating the mould.

Each mould is provided with a plate 29 serving to break off the sprue from the slug. This plate is provided with a casting slot 30 having preferably -a V-shaped cross section and an ejecting opening or slot 3! extending across the whole width of the casting slot. The mould body 25 is provided with a flat recess extending over its entire height which is preferably somewhat narrower than the casting slot (Figure 3), and the plate 29 is adaptcdto engage this recess with a corresponding projecting part 32 (Figures 3 and 4) this projecting part 32 reaching as far as the casting slot 330i the plate 29.

The position of the respective parts during the casting operation is shown in Figure 4. The molten metal is injected from the metal pot throat 33 and passes through the slot of the pot mouthpiece 34 into the recess 30 of the plate 29 and from there into the mould. The rear part of the mould is thus for the greater part covered by that part of the plate 29 lying above the slot 38. The slug is therefore regularly cast full height up to this point. The slot 30 however projects into the mould to the extent of the height of the lug 32 of the plate, and consequently the sprue comes on to a part of the slug located at a somewhat deeper level, so that when the sprue is broken off rupture occurs at a point inside the slug. In other respects however the slug is a full-height slug and the foot does not require any further machining whatsoever.

The breaking off of the sprue cast within the slot 3f! is elfected by the downward movement of the plate 29 which is guided in a vertical direction in the mould carrier. As a guideway two side plates 35 (Figure 3) are attached to the mould carrier and are adapted to engage lateral recesses on the plate 29. The displacement of the plate 29 is effected by means of a stud 36, which, when the mould is in the casting position, is located in the forked extremity of a lever 31 pivotally mounted on a shaft 38 on the machine frame. The lever is depressed and elevated at the required periods by a cam disc, not shown. In order to determine its correct terminal position, the lever 31 may be made to support an abutment screw 40 on a further arm 39, which screw is adjustable and comes into contact with a stop 4|. When the casting operation is completed, the lever 31 moves downwardly moving the plate 29, the sprue being thus broken oil and the plate 29 moving into its lowermost position as illustrated in Figure 5. In this position the ejector slot 3! faces the slug 42 located inside the mould and when the mould carrier is thereafter rotated through 90 degrees the ejection of the slug is effected in the usual manner by the ejector blade 43. In order to provide space for the stud 36 of the pertinent mould when the mould carrier is turned through 90 degrees the lever 31 is either elevated by the cam or a spring is provided inits operating mechanism to allow it to yield resiliently. The said lever returns to its initial position when the backward movement of the mould carrier takes place, thus enabling the returning stud 36 again to enter the slot of the lever 31.

If it is desired to effect a change of moulds, it is merely necessary to remove the index pin out of the pertinent hole ll wherein it is located and to turn the mould carrier through degrees, degrees or'2 '70 degrees as desired, and then to allow the index pin to engage the hole corresponding to the mould selected.

In order to remove the sprue located in the recess 30, two studs 45 under the action'of a comparatively powerful spring 44 are provided in the machine frame at the point of ejection, one

only of the said studs. being shown in Figure 5. The studs are arranged symmetrically in relation tothe centre of the mould. While, in general, two 'such'studs, are sufiicient, a greater number may be used if desired. In the case of short lines it may be found that one stud will sufiice. These studs, in the ejection position of the mould carrier, are adapted to project into the mould through the holes 46, behind which are located, in the mould carrier, studs 41. To these latter studs 41 are attached, by screws 49, small ejector blades 48. Springs 50 are provided, which act against a lug fast on'the stud 41, and tend to pull the stud 41 inwardly towards the mould'car rier.

Inthe ejecting position, the slot 30 is located The springs 58 are weaker than the springs opposite the small blades 48, and when, during out of the recess 30 as shown in dotted lines in Figure 5. When the mould carrier returns, the blades 48 are moved out of the'plate 29, and, when the mould carrier has carried out its return movement through 90 degrees and the stud 36 is again engaged by the forked extremity of the lever 31, the plate 29 is again raised by the lever 31 and returned to the initial position shown in Figure 4.

In modifications of the form of the invention being described, it should be understood that any of the locking mechanisms already known per se, such as resilient catches or the like, may be used to secure the plate 29 in'its temporary terminal positions. Y

Since the present invention deals with completely finished castings, the lateral faces of the slug do not require any machining, and all that is needed to finish the slug is the removal of the fins formed at the side of the slug near to its front edge where the mould and the matrix line come against each other. For this purpose the trimming mechanism shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7 may be -used,-this becoming active as soon as the slug 42 takes up the position, illustrated in Figure 5, in which it has been moved a short way out of the mould. The trimming mechanism comprises two knives 52 located opposite each other and supported by the knife block 53. The two knives may be adjusted relatively to one another by any convenient means such as set screws or the like, or alternatively, as shown in the drawings, more especially in Figure 5, both knives 52 may be secured to a plate 59 by clamping screws 60, the plate with the knives being inter-.

spaced knives when changing from the casting of one body size to another. For this latter purpose a slot is preferably provided in the plate 59, the said slot being adapted to engage a set The knife block 53 is mounted on a slide 54' adapted to travel in a vertical direction in a guide 55 on the vise frame, the slide being moved up and down by a rod 56. The rod 56 is actuated by a mechanism operated by the main cam shaft not shown in the drawings. At its lower end the slide 54 is fitted with a projection 51 to which is attached a plate 58. When the slide 54 has been moved upwardly, the slug enters thehollow space thus formed between the plate 58 and the slide, the fins formed at the front edge of the slugs being thus removed. When the slide is in its uppermost position, as shown in Figure '7, it acts as a guide for the slug 42 as the latter is ejected further out of the mould, and when the slug has left this hollow space, it slides in known manner into the slug galley.

Various modifications of the details of the form of the invention herein described may, if desired, be adopted. For instance, in place of a circular mould carriercapable of accommodating a'large number of moulds, a swing block may be used to carry one mould only. Other means may also be employed for the actuation of the plate, adapted to receive and sever the sprue. The plate 29 may also be arranged to locate the sprue opening 35 in the operative position at the top edge of the slug, and thus allow that part of the plate 29 provided above the sprue slot 30 slightly to enter the mould cap, in which case the breaking off of the sprue would be effected by the upward movement of the plate.

Furthermore, although in the present description reference is made to a turning movement of the mould carrier through 90 degrees, since in the case of the known machines the pot mouthpiece and the ejector blade are so disposedrelatively to each other, that a turning movement of that amount brings the mould from one position into the other, the invention covers also arrangements wherein, in consequence of a different positioning of the mould and of the ejecting mechanism, the turning movement may be of either greater or lesser extent.

It should be understood that these, and various other modifications which may become desirable in order to carry the invention into effect under different conditions and requirements which have to be fulfilled, may be employed without departing in any way from the scope of the invention.

Having described our invention, we declare that what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. A typographical slug casting machine comprising in combination a mould mounted on a mould carrier, means for reciprocating the mould carrier between positions in which the mould therein is located respectively for casting and ejecting a slug, means movable with themould for separating the sprue from a cast slug, means for trimming the slug during ejection, and means for removing the sprue from the sprue separator during ejection of the slug.

2. A typographical slug ,casting machine comprising in combination a plurality of moulds, a mould carrier including a supporting member for said moulds and a reciprocable part to which said supporting member is adjustably secured, means for reciprocating the mould carrier between P051! tions in which the mould therein is located respectively for casting and ejecting a slug, means movable with the mould for separating the sprue from a cast slug, means for trimming the slug during ejection, and means for removing the sprue from the sprue separator during ejection of the slug.

3. A typographical slug casting machine comprising in combination a plurality of moulds, a mould carrier, including a substantially circular frame having peripheral recesses into, which said moulds are fitted and a reciprocable part to which said frame is secured, means for reciprocating the mould carrier between positions in which the mould therein is located respectively for casting and ejecting a slug, means movable with the mould for separating the sprue from a cast slug, means for trimming the slug during ejection, and means for removing the sprue from the sprue separator during ejection of the slug.

4. A typographical slug casting machine comprising in combination amould, a mouldcarrier,

cording to claim 4 wherein said mould locating and anchoring means comprise an interengaging recess and rib on the carrier and mould.

6. A typographical slug casting machine comprising in combination a slotted mould mounted on a mould carrier, means for reciprocating the mould carrier between positions in which the mould therein is located respectively for casting and ejecting a slug, a plate attached to the rear face of the mould having a slot in line with the mould slot in casting position, means for moving said plate relatively to the mould, means for trimming the slug during ejection, and means for removing the sprue from the sprue separator during ejection of the slug.

'7. A typographical slug casting machine according to claim 6 wherein said plate is provided with another slot which comes into line with the mould slot after the said movement of the plate which movement displaces the first mentioned slot from register with the mould slot and thus separates the sprue from the slug.

8. A typographical slug casting machine comprising in combination a slotted mould mounted on a mould carrier, means for reciprocating the mould carrier between positions in which the mould therein is located respectively for casting and ejecting a slug, a plate adjacent'to the rear face of the mould having a slot in line with the mould slot in casting position, means for moving said plate relatively to the mould, a releasable coupling between said plate and its moving means, whereby the plate and its moving means are interconnected when the mould is in casting position and disconnected when the mould'is in slug ejecting position, .means' for trimming the slug during ejection, and means for removing the sprue fromthe sprue separator during ejection of the slug.

9,. A typographical slug casting machine according to claim '8 comprising apin on said plate, and a forked driving arm with which said pin engages when the mould is in casting position.

10. A typographical slug casting machine com-l prising in combination a mould mounted on a mould carrier, means for reciprocating the mould carrier between positions in which the mould therein is located respectively for casting and ejecting 'a slug, means movable with the mould for separating the sprue from a castslug, knives carried ona vertically movable slide adjacentto the slot of the mould in its ejecting position for trimming the slug during ejection, and means for removing thesprue from the sprue separator during-ejectionof the slug.

ll. Atypographical slug casting machine ac cording to claim 10 wherein said slide is in the form of a housing which serves as a guide for the slug during its conveyance from ejection.

12. Atypographical slug castingmachine comprising in combination a mould mounted on a mould carrier, means for reciprocating the mould :carrier between positions in which the mould therein-is located respectively for casting and ejecting a slug, means for separating the sprue from a cast slug, means for trimming the slug :during ejection, and a pusher member on said mould carrier for ejecting the sprue from said separator when the mould is in the slug ejecting position.

13. A typographical slug casting machine comprisingin combination a mould mounted on a mouldcarrier, means for reciprocating the mould carrier j between positions in which the mould therein is located respectively for casting and ejecting a slug, means for separating the sprue from a :cast slug, means for trimming the slug during ejection, apusher member on said mould carrier for ejecting the spruefrom said separator when the mould is in the slug ejecting position, and means "for forcing said pusher member against the sprue when the mould carrier is moved towards the vise frame.

14. -A typographical slug castingmachine com- CHRISTIAN AUGUSTUS ALBRECHT. HERMANN BRANDENBURG. 

